Shoe-form.



L. W. REINHARDT.

SHOE FORM.

APPLICATION FILED 00112, 1911.

1,023,395. Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

srn'rns PATENT o ro LOUIS W. REINHARDT', OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIG'NOR T0 GEORGE E.

MASSACHUSETTS.

A CORPORATION OF SHOE-FORM.

Application filed October 12, 1911.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LOUIS WV. REINHARDr, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brockton, county of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Shoe-Forms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to a shoe form for shoes, and its object is to provide a device of this character which will be of simple but strong construction, and which shall hold the shoe in its proper shape, supporting and keeping the upper smooth throughout. Shoe forms of this character are used principally in displaying shoes for sale, and are largely carried by traveling salesmen. It is essential, therefore, that the shoe form should be as light as possible, and that it should display the shoe in the most attractive and artistic manner, and that it should be itself pleasing in appearance to the eye.

The present invention presents a device made of thin material, such as fiber board, and which consequently is of light weight. It is so constructed that when in position in the shoe it firmly supports the fore part of the shoe and braces the heel part so as to maintain the upper edge of the shoe in proper posit-ion. At the same time it is formed to cover the interior of the shoe, hiding the mechanism of the form, and affording a place for the display of the name or advertisement of the manufacturer or dealer.

The nature of the invention will more fully appear from the accompanying description and drawings, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The drawings show the invention in its preferred form, and applied to an ordinary style of low cut or Oxford shoe.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents in perspective a shoe with the form of this in vention in place therein, and indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of the shoe and form taken on the line ww of Fig. 3, the dotted lines indicating the position of the form parts when about to be removed from the shoe. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the form.

The form of this invention may be made of any suitable thin material capable of be- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912. Serial No. 654,266.

ing given the desired shape, and having sutficient strength. It is preferably made of fiber board formed into the desired shape.

The shoe form comprises three main ele ments, viz., the fore part, the cover part and the hinge member. The fore part is shown at 1 and consists of a thin hollow shell of the material such as fiber board, the exterior surface of the shell conforming to the interior of the fore part of the shoe, and having in effect the same configuration as the last upon which the shoe was made, so that this part of the shoe may be supported in its normal and correct shape. This fore part rests on the sole of the shoe, and is preferably split longitudinally throughout at the bottom, as may be seen from Fig. 3, this being there shown as caused by the removal of all the bottom portion of the form excepting a flange 2 at each side. Means are provided for expanding the shell so that when placed Within the fore part of the shoe it may be pressed into normal position. Such means are herein illustrated as a toggle joint comprising the link 3 pivoted to one side of the shell and pivoted to the link 4, which in turn is pivoted to the opposite side of the shell. The link 4 is provided with a finger piece 5 by means of which the toggle joint can be opened and closed.

The cover part of the shoe form is preferably made of the same material as the fore part, and is indicated at 6. It comprises a curved top 7 and a depending peripheral flange 8, the latter conforming to the inner surface of the shoe upper. This flange at its forward portion conforms to and fits snugly against and preferably over the upper edge of the fore part, and the flange is skived at its lower edge to enable it to lie against the fore part without making an objectionable ridge.

The hinge member by which the fore part and cover part are connected is preferably formed of a U-shaped strip of metal, the legs 9 and 10 of which are respectively pivoted at their free ends to the lower rear side portions of the fore part. The curved center portion of the hinge member, when the cover part is in normal position, abuts against the rear portion of the depending flange thereof and presses the same firmly against the rearportion of the shoe upper and adjacent the upper edge of the heel counter, so that the shoe upper is stretched slightly to cause it to cling firmly to the cover part is then swung downwardly as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and pressed into the shoe until the rear end engages the rear portion of the shoe upper. Then upon pressing the cover down into place the hinge member acts as a sort of toggle joint, stretching the shoe upper lengthwise, and when the cover part comes into final position with its flange fitting over and resting against the upper rear edge of the fore part, the hinge member eX- tends in an inclined direction from the lower rear end of the fore part upwardly to the rear portion of the shoe upper near the top of the heel counter, locking the parts of the shoe form in place and bracing the shoe longitudinally, and thus causing the shoe upper to cling to the form.

The form is shown in place in Fig. 2, and it will be seen that the cover part conceals the interior mechanism of the form, and presents a place upon which the name or advertisement of the manufacturer or dealer maybe placed.

The invention having been fully described, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A shoe form comprising a fore part, a cover part having its periphery conforming to the shape of the shoe upper, and a hinge member pivoted atone end to the lower The toggle joint is rear end of the fore part and pivoted at an intermediate point to the rear portion of the cover part, and when the shoe form is in position bracing the rear edge of the cover part against the rear of the shoe upper to cause the shoe upper to fit against and conform to the edge of the cover part.

2. A shoe form comprising a fore part conforming to the shape of the fore part of the shoe, a cover part having a depending peripheral flange conforming to the shoe upper and fitting against the upper rear edge of the fore part, and a-U-shaped hinge member pivoted at the ends of its legs to said fore part, and pivoted at intermediate points of its legs to the flange of the cover part, and having its curved center portion when the form is in position bracing the rear of the shoe upper near the top of the heel counter.

3. A shoe form comprising a fore part, a cover part and a U-shaped hinge member, the said fore part being a thin hollow shell of suitable material conforming to the fore part of the shoe, split longitudinally at the bottom and provided with means for eX- panding it laterally, the said cover part having a depending peripheral flange conforming to the shape of the shoe upper and fitting over the upper rear edge of the fore part and the said hinge member being pivoted at the ends of its legs to the sides of the fore part near the lower rear edges and being pivoted intermediate of its legs to the depending flange of the cover part near the rear thereof, and when the form is in position having its center port-ion braced against the rear of the shoe upper.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS W. REINHARDT.

Witnesses:

CHARLOTTE M. SUMNER, THOMAS J. DRUMMO'ND.

I Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

